How Rico Dowdle has transformed into an RB1 force for Cowboys

Editor’s note: This is the 15th installment of a season-long series on a breakout star from the past week of NFL action. The Week 15 winner: Dallas Cowboys running back Rico Dowdle . 

After his latest dominant performance for the Cowboys, Rico Dowdle said that he’s probably never had more fun running the football. The closest comparison, he explained, was high school. 

What’s been missing, though? Touchdowns. 

He has just one in 13 games. 

"But this is definitely a great time right now considering these past three weeks," Dowdle said. 

He had 25 carries for a career-high 149 yards in Dallas’ 30-14 victory Sunday over the Carolina Panthers, marking his third straight game of at least 110 rushing yards. A 2020 UDFA out of South Carolina, Dowdle is the first undrafted player with three straight 100-plus rushing yard games since 2014 (Arian Foster). 

Over the past three weeks, Dowdle is first among running backs in rushing yards (392), yards after contact (283), rushes of 10-plus yards (14) and missed tackles forced (16), and ranks second in rushes for a first down (18), according to Pro Football Focus. 

With the Cowboys (6-8) playing cleaner football as of late and keeping games close, they’ve been able to lean on Dowdle, who has erupted late in the season. He’s averaging 21 carries and 119.5 rushing yards per game (5.6 yards per carry) over his past four games — up from 9.8 rushing attempts for just 45.3 rushing yards per game (4.6) in his first nine games. Dallas is 4-1 when Dowdle has at least 80 rushing yards, while it’s 2-7 when he’s under 80. 

Dowdle’s breakout has come as the Cowboys have won three of their past four games, keeping their long-shot playoff hopes alive. 

"He's doing a really good job, breaks